THE ECITTS INTEGRATED TOXICITY TESTING SCHEME - THE APPLICATION OF IN-VITRO TEST SYSTEMS TO THE HAZARD ASSESSMENT OF CHEMICALS

A multicentre project has been designed, with the purpose of developin g the concept of integrated in vitro testing. The aim is to use non-an imal methods to assess the toxicological properties of chemicals, and to improve this assessment through the use of knowledge of mechanisms of toxic action. A number of tests or test batteries were selected wit hin eight areas: basal cytotoxicity, irritancy, developmental toxicolo gy, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and biokinetics. For each area, a number of calibration chemicals were sel ected. In an initial pilot study, the neurotoxic properties of five ch emicals will be studied in combination with a biokinetic analysis, in which blood and brain concentrations will be predicted from biokinetic modelling.